Boat.



No: 730,889. PATBNTEDJUNE 16, 19034 S. A. DUVALL.

BOAT

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 19. 1903.

N0 MODEL 'mz ucmms PEYERS cow PHDYO-UYNO" WASHINGTON. o. c.

UNITED STATES Patented June 16, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

STEPHEN A. DUVALL, OF PENRITH, WEST VIRGINIA.

BOAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 730,889, dated June 16,1903. Application filed February 19, 1903. Serial No. M4091. No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, STEPHEN A. DUVALL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Penrith, in the county of Hancockand State of West Virginia,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boats, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in boats which are propelled bypaddle-wheels, the wheel either being arranged astern or at the sides;and the main object of my invention is the provision of a scraper whichis adapted to be so placed in relation to the wheels as to scrape thesurplus water from the paddles as the same leaves the water after makinga stroke, thus relieving the strain upon the wheel and propellingmechanism where the water is carried upon the wheel as the same is beingrevolved.

-Another object of my invention is the provision of a scraper which issimple, durable, and inexpensive and which is very easily applied and istherefore thoroughly efficient and practical in use.

To attain these objects the invention consists of a scraper for thispurpose embodying novel features of construction and combination ofparts,substantially as disclosed herein.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a section through the sternend of a sternwheeler boat, showing my scraper in position. Fig. 2 is abottom plan View of the paddle wheel and scraper in operative position,and Fig. 3 is a scraper removed.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a padd1e-wheel,which isjournaled in the proper bearings upon the projecting beams B, astern oftheboat. The ends of. these beams are slightly rounded, as at C, andsecured thereto is my scraper D. This scraper is provided with a topE,'provided with the oppositelyextended projections F in order that thescraper or blade G may properly depend in place between the beams and besecured in the proper position to scrape the paddles of the wheels oneat a time as they ascend from the water, thus relieving the wheel fromthe strain of lifting the extra weight of dead water after the paddlehas exerted all of the propelling pressure against the water. The topside of the scraper may beslightly concaved or straight, but is placedin such a position as to give the water after it has been scraped by thescraper a downward chute back into the river.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings,it will be seen that I provide a simple, durable, and inexpensive devicewhich is readily attached to the side and stern wheels of boats andwhich absolutely prevents the dead water from being carried upon thepaddles after they have left the water, thus relieving the machinery ofa great strain, saving energy and energyproducing material, such as coaland steam, and at the same time increasing the speed of the boat,'as thepower exerted for raising this dead water is reserved for the propellingof the boat.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination with a boat provided with paddle-wheels, of a scrapersecured to the rear of the paddle-wheels and provided with aforwardly-inclined scraper adapted to have its lowest edge in closeproximity to the blades of the wheel and slightly above the level of thewater so as to out ofi the water raised by said wheel, and adownwardly-inclined apron or top to cause the water scraped from thewheel to be converted downwardly.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

STEPHEN A. DUVALL.

Witnesses:

WM. GRAHAM, W. M. MCKNIGHT,

